[AfghanDigest] LAST 24 HOURS
- PUBLIC EXECUTION IN FARAH – In what is being billed as the first public execution approved by the Taliban, a man was put to death in Farah. Most expected capital punishment (executions) to be reinstated immediately in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover. Many observers have opined the Taliban wanted to gain surer footing before bringing them back. Our analysis indicates that this first execution will likely cause a rash of public executions across the country to be carried out. Taliban zealots among the judiciary in other provinces will want to show public support for the new measure and send signals to Kabul and Kandahar of their fealty and support. More executions are likely over the coming month. International legal bodies have quickly condemned the executions and are concerned that prisoners will not receive due process from Taliban courts.
- IRANIAN SECURITY FORCES OPEN FIRE ON A TRUCK CARRYING AFGHAN REFUGEES IN WESTERN IRAN – 17 People were reportedly killed and/or wounded when Iranian Army soldiers opened fire on a vehicle that was transporting Afghan refugees in the Sistan-Baluchistan Province. The vehicle failed to stop for a security inspection and there are rumors the owner of the vehicle has long been involved in smuggling people. The Afghan refugees were not thought to have been specifically targeted. No further information was available.
- CLEARING OPERATION IN KABUL – Taliban security forces were witnessed carrying out an operation in Police District 10 of Kabul yesterday. Approximately 30 Taliban vehicles and about 100 police and fighters descended on the Shar-e-Naw neighborhood. The streets were blocked and house-to-house searches were observed. An unconfirmed report said that three people with hoods over their heads were led away by agents of the GDI. It is not currently known what the target of the operation was and no further information was available.
- RESISTANCE FORCES AND TALIBAN CLASH - After weeks of limited activity, two separate operations were reported in Northern Afghanistan. See the Conflict Tracker below for details.
CONFLICT TRACKER
Takhar: NRF forces ambushed a vehicle carrying Qari Abdullah (aka Qari Ilyas) yesterday evening in Rostaq district of the province, No word has been received about the results of the operation as of publication.
Badakhshan: Taliban security for rs attacked the base of Commander Qadir in Arghanjkah. 5 Talib fighters were killed and 6 were wounded in the fighting. The base remains under control of the NRF.
NEXT 24 HOURS
SECURITY OPERATION SCHEDULED FOR POLICE DISTRICT 4 OR 5 – A source in the Police said that a ‘clearing operation’ focused on finding 4 ISIS-K members will be carried out in one of these districts today. The group is thought to be managing communications for the different ISIS-K cells in Kabul and possibly Kandahar. At-risk Afghan should not face any risk from this operation but are advised to depart any area of Taliban troop/police concentrations and be watchful of high-speed traffic around the city if the suspects are located. |